Virus killer? Manhunt for McAfee founder

McAfee's founder is wanted by Belizean police on suspicion that he murdered an American expatriate.

A bit of a murder mystery seems to be developing around McAfee founder John McAfee.

The tale has all the hallmarks of a dime-store novel; set in the sweltering jungles of Belize, featuring a roguish millionaire gone native, vicious dogs, firearms and the murder of an American expat.

But this is not Hollywood. It’s a real life manhunt.

Belizean police say they want to bring McAfee in on suspicion he murdered American expatriate Gregory Faull found dead on Sunday.

And make no mistake… McAfee’s not just wanted for regular questioning. He’s the prime suspect. At least, according to Marco Vidal, head of the national police force's Gang Suppression Unit (GSU), in an interview with Gizmodo earlier today.

After selling his anti-virus software company for a rumored $100 million, McAfee moved to the tiny central American paradise of Belize where he invested most of his time in the pursuit of Yoga, low-altitude flying and herbal remedies.

He was said to be behaving in an increasingly paranoid manner after experimenting with the legal drug Methylenedioxypyrovalerone – known to be psychoactive and referred to by McAfee as "super perv powder" in a number of internet forum postings.

McAfee also boasted in recent interviews about his frequent associations with notorious Belizean gangsters.

The official police statement makes no mention of McAfee, saying police had not established a motive “so far” but were “following several leads.”

The statement said 52-year old U.S. national Gregory Faull was found dead on Sunday (Nov.11) near San Pedro “lying face up in a pool of blood with an apparent gunshot wound on the upper rear part of his head.”

He had been found by his cleaning lady.

No signs of forced entry were found, but his laptop and computer were both missing.

Faull was working in Belize as a builder, and had recently been involved in a spat with McAfee over dogs.

The situation escalated until Faull filed a formal complaint against McAfee with the mayor's office last week, in which he bemoaned the founder’s “roguish behavior,” and firing of hand guns.

When police searched McAfee’s house, next to Faull’s home, they found him missing and news is that he has thus far failed to return.

It’s not the first time McAfee has found himself in trouble with the GSU. In May, over 40 police officers burst in and arrested him on charges pertaining to firearm offenses and unlicensed drug manufacturing, though these were subsequently dropped.

Whether the murder charge will wash off so quickly remains to be seen.--Related content:

I can't tell whether that's a compliment or a complaint, Mike :) I will try to take it as the former, and if I ever become a published murder mystery novelist, I'll make sure to send you a signed copy! :) This McAfee story is nuts, though, isn't it?? crazy stuff.